Southwest Airways has formally set the date for its huge changeover to assigned seats and has laid out precisely how its all-new boarding course of will work.
The airline’s long-standing open seating coverage will formally finish on Jan. 27, 2026, the Dallas-based service introduced Monday. Passengers booked on all flights from that day ahead will likely be given a particular seat project.
Prospects reserving 2026 flights will begin to discover the modifications even earlier: Beginning subsequent week, on July 29, passengers reserving a flight for Jan. 27 of subsequent 12 months (or past) can have the choice to select their seat
That may embrace the choice for the service’s first-ever further legroom seats, which is able to formally debut as a brand new “premium” seating choice in January, as properly.
“Assigned seating unlocks new alternatives for our clients—together with the power to pick Further Legroom seats—and removes the uncertainty of not figuring out the place they are going to sit within the cabin. This is a crucial step in our evolution,” Southwest govt vice chairman of buyer and model Tony Roach stated in a press release Monday.
Here is what to know in regards to the newest modifications introduced by Southwest, and what it’ll imply for reserving journeys on the airline over the approaching weeks and months.
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When will Southwest begin assigning seats?
Assigned seating on Southwest Airways will formally launch on flights departing on and after Jan. 27, 2026. Further legroom seats will technically make their debut that very same day, too (although some Southwest planes have already, quietly, been outfitted with the brand new extra-space rows!)
Southwest will start providing seat choice starting on July 29 — although consider, clients who decide the airline’s new primary financial system fare will not be eligible for complimentary seat choice.
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Who can choose a seat without spending a dime on Southwest?
As a part of Southwest’s huge shift away from its half-century open seating coverage, the service is revamping its fare selections with new names — and new seating advantages.
As a reminder:
- Wanna Get Away already turned “Primary” and does not embrace complimentary seat choice, much like different airways’ primary financial system choices.
- Wanna Get Away will grow to be “Alternative,” and can embrace commonplace seat choice
- Anytime will grow to be “Alternative Most well-liked,” and can include the selection to pick a traditional seat that is located nearer to the entrance of the plane.
- Enterprise Choose will grow to be “Alternative Further” and can include the choice to pick a free further legroom seat.
Particular perks for A-Checklist, credit score cardholders
Vacationers with Fast Rewards elite standing and sure Southwest bank cards will get extra favorable seat choice perks.
Pending availability:
- A-Checklist members will likely be allowed to pick a most well-liked seat at reserving, and an additional legroom seat inside 48 hours of departure.
- A-Checklist Most well-liked members will likely be allowed to pick any seat, together with further legroom, at reserving.
- All Southwest credit score cardholders will likely be allowed to pick a seat inside 48 hours of departure, even when they’re flying on a primary financial system fare.
- Prospects with sure bank cards will likely be allowed to improve to an additional legroom seat inside 48 hours of departure, when obtainable. All cardholders will likely be allowed to pick a seat, of some variety, inside 48 hours of departure.
New boarding course of detailed
As a part of Monday’s announcement, the airline additionally unveiled the main points of its reimagined boarding course of. As TPG reported this spring, gone would be the days of lining up, single-file, to get on the airplane.
The brand new nine-group course of will look much more just like the boarding setup used at different carriers.
Teams 1 and a couple of will likely be reserved for A-Checklist Most well-liked members, and for passengers who ebook a high-priced Alternative Further fare or improve to an additional legroom seat.
Alternative Most well-liked vacationers, A-Checklist members who do not rating an extra-space seat, and Southwest credit score cardholders will board no later than Group 5.
Teams 6 by 8 will embrace passengers flying on Alternative or Primary fare, with primary financial system passengers final to board.
Backside line
Southwest first introduced its shift to assigned and further legroom seats practically a 12 months in the past, in July 2024, arguing {that a} majority of consumers most well-liked a seat project to the service’s 50-year open seating coverage.
Mixed with the airline’s implementation of checked bag charges in late Could, it is a time of main change on the airline.
Southwest executives have stated these modifications will drive extra income and cater to clients’ evolving preferences.
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